Anthem… or metal?

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National anthems are the proud musical embodiments of the spirit of a nation. And metal songs are roared by hairy people in dungeons. But can you tell the difference between them from only the lyrics? See how you fare with these twenty excerpts…

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1. Question

The sky is turning red,
return to power draws near,
Fall into me, the sky’s crimson tears,
abolish the rules made of stone

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! These charming lyrics are from Slayer’s 1986 single ‘Raining Blood’, from the similarly-titled classic album, Reign In Blood. That’s a platinum-selling album, so you’ve probably heard these lyrics somewhere, some time…

Incorrect

No, sorry. It’s metal. And classic metal, at that. These charming lyrics are from Slayer’s 1986 single ‘Raining Blood’, from the similarly-titled classic album, Reign In Blood. That’s a platinum-selling album, so you’ve probably heard these lyrics somewhere, some time…

Question 2 of 20

2. Question

We swear by sword
and the speech of pride,
And the neighing of horses
when in duty

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! These were part of the lyrics from the national anthem of Iraq from 1981 to 2003 – essentially, Saddam Hussein’s era. That guy liked melodrama.

Incorrect

Nope, sorry. These were part of the lyrics from the national anthem of Iraq from 1981 to 2003 – essentially, Saddam Hussein’s era. That guy liked melodrama.

Question 3 of 20

3. Question

Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They’re coming right into your arms
To slit off the throats
of your sons and your companions!

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! These fierce lyrics are part of the words of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise. It is one of the oldest anthems in the world, in use since 1795.

Incorrect

No, sorry. These fierce lyrics are part of the words of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise. It is one of the oldest anthems in the world, in use since 1795.

Question 4 of 20

4. Question

So gather round, young warriors now,
and saddle up your steeds,
Killing scores with demon swords
Now is the death of doers of wrong

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yeeaaahhh! These are lyrics from ‘The Four Horsemen’ by Metallica, from their triple-platinum debut album, Kill ’Em All.

Incorrect

Nope! These are lyrics from ‘The Four Horsemen’ by Metallica, from their triple-platinum debut album, Kill ’Em All.

Question 5 of 20

5. Question

May the laurels be eternal,
the ones we managed to win,
the ones we managed to win.
Let us live crowned in glory…
or let us swear in glory to die!

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! These are part of the words of the national anthem of Argentina. The words were adopted in 1813, so these lyrics have been terrifying the world for over two centuries.

Incorrect

Sorry… these are actually part of the words of the national anthem of Argentina. The words were adopted in 1813, so these lyrics have been terrifying the world for over two centuries.

Question 6 of 20

6. Question

We swear by the lightning that destroys,
By the virtuous and fragrant blood,
By the shining, fluttering banners,
In the steep and majestic mountains

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes, these are part of the words from the Algerian national anthem, Qassaman. Next time you have to promise something, maybe you can also offer to “swear by the lightning that destroys, and the virtuous and fragrant blood”. Sounds pretty metal.

Incorrect

Nope. These are part of the words from the Algerian national anthem, Qassaman. But, n time you have to promise something, maybe you can also offer to “swear by the lightning that destroys, and the virtuous and fragrant blood”. Sounds pretty metal.

Question 7 of 20

7. Question

You’ll die as you lived, In a flash of the blade
In a corner forgotten by no-one
You lived for the touch, for the feel of the steel
One man, and his honour

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yep, this is from the words to ‘Flash of the Blade’ by Iron Maiden, from their ancient-Egypt-themed 1984 album Powerslave.

Incorrect

Not an anthem! This is from the words to ‘Flash of the Blade’ by Iron Maiden, from their ancient-Egypt-themed 1984 album Powerslave.

Question 8 of 20

8. Question

To battle, to battle, the Saracen hordes
We follow the warrior king
Onward, ride onward, into the fight
We carry the sign of the cross

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yep! These are words from Saxon’s song ‘Crusader’, from their 1984 album of the same name, Crusader.

Incorrect

Nope, sorry! These are words from Saxon’s song ‘Crusader’, from their 1984 album of the same name, Crusader.

Question 9 of 20

9. Question

Climbs the mountain, descends the valley
Sadness and despair his companions
Sea of blood beneath his feet
Ocean of flame above

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yep! These terrifying, metal-sounding lyrics are from the Hungarian anthem, Himnusz, which was adopted in 1844.

Incorrect

No! These terrifying, metal-sounding lyrics are actually from the Hungarian anthem, Himnusz, which was adopted in 1844.

Question 10 of 20

10. Question

The distant rumbling of the guns
mingles with our marching song,
The path to glory is built
by the bodies of our foes

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes, these are part of the words of Vietnam’s national anthem, Tiến Quân Ca. The title translates as ‘the song of the advancing soldiers’.

Incorrect

Nope. These are part of the words of Vietnam’s national anthem, Tiến Quân Ca. The title translates as ‘the song of the advancing soldiers’.

Question 11 of 20

11. Question

Hold true, ye sacred army
Our last battle is at hand
Sweep this dogs from our kingdom
Bless this ground, our holy land

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes indeed, these lyrics are from ‘Holy War’, by everybody’s favourite defenders of true metal, Manowar, from the album Fighting the World. Wimps and posers, leave the hall.

Incorrect

No, these lyrics are from ‘Holy War’, by everybody’s favourite defenders of true metal, Manowar, from the album Fighting the World. Wimps and posers, leave the hall.

No, though it sounds like it. These are actually from the words to Norway’s national anthem, Ja, vi elsker dette landet, adopted in the 1860s.

Question 13 of 20

13. Question

Arise! All who those
who don’t want to be slaves!
Let our flesh and blood
forge our new Great Wall!

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yep, these metal-tastic words are from China’s national anthem, March of the Volunteers. The song has been China’s anthem since 1949.

Incorrect

Nope, these metal-tastic words are from China’s national anthem, March of the Volunteers. The song has been China’s anthem since 1949.

Question 14 of 20

14. Question

Children of tomorrow
live in the tears that fall today
Will the sunrise of tomorrow
bring in peace in any way

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes – these are from the words to Black Sabbath’s classic 1971 single, ‘Children of the Grave’, from the album Master of Reality.

Incorrect

No, sorry. These are from the words to Black Sabbath’s classic 1971 single, ‘Children of the Grave’, from the album Master of Reality.

Question 15 of 20

15. Question

Mourn for us oppressed in fear
Chained and shackled we are bound
Freedom choked in dread we live
Since Tyrant was enthroned

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes: these are lyrics from Judas Priest’s 1976 single ‘Tyrant’, from the album Sad Wings of Destiny. Though maybe it’ll end up being the anthem of some hard-rocking country, some day?

Incorrect

Nope. These are lyrics from Judas Priest’s 1976 single ‘Tyrant’, from the album Sad Wings of Destiny. Though maybe it’ll end up being the anthem of some hard-rocking country, some day?

Question 16 of 20

16. Question

Land of the sun, of glory, and loving,
Life is heaven in thine embrace,
’Tis our joy, when there be oppressors,
To die because of thee

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! These are lyrics from Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem of the Philippines. So if you thought this was Metallica… it’s not.

Incorrect

No, not metal. These are lyrics from Lupang Hinirang, the national anthem of the Philippines. So if you thought this was Metallica… it’s not.

Question 17 of 20

17. Question

We are storming the heavens
To raise the swords and shields
We ascend to our destiny
To the Elysian fields

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes indeed, this is from ‘Elysian Fields’ by Megadeth. It’s from their mid-90s album Youthanasia, when they battled in defence of metal against the grunge onslaught.

Incorrect

No, this is metal – it’s from ‘Elysian Fields’ by Megadeth. It’s from their mid-90s album Youthanasia, when they battled in defence of metal against the grunge onslaught.

Question 18 of 20

18. Question

Fear not! For the crimson flag that proudly
ripples in this glorious twilight, shall never fade,
Before the last fiery hearth that is ablaze
within my nation is extinguished

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! These are some of the words of Turkey’s national anthem, İstiklâl Marşı (the title of which translates as ‘the independence march’).

Incorrect

Nope! These are some of the words of Turkey’s national anthem, İstiklâl Marşı (the title of which translates as ‘the independence march’).

Question 19 of 20

19. Question

Oh, we are the soldiers in the line of fire
Down in the trenches we wait for the night
The time is approaching
We’re ready to strike

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! These are lyrics from thrash metal titans Anthrax, taken from their debut single, ‘Soldiers of Metal’, released in 1983, and also on 1984’s album Fistful of Metal.

Incorrect

Nope, sorry: these are lyrics from thrash metal titans Anthrax, taken from their debut single, ‘Soldiers of Metal’, released in 1983, and also on 1984’s album Fistful of Metal.

Question 20 of 20

20. Question

The cradle of the next generation
Risen from above the lands
Descending like a dreamless castle
For a new hope

National anthem!

Metal song!

Correct

Yes! We’re going avant-garde metal for the last question: this is from ‘Hunting & Gathering (Cydonia)’ by drone-doom overlords Sunn0))). The album it’s from, Monoliths & Dimensions, is probably the slowest and doomiest music ever recorded.

Incorrect

Nope! We’re going avant-garde metal for the last question: this is from ‘Hunting & Gathering (Cydonia)’ by drone-doom overlords Sunn0))). The album it’s from, Monoliths & Dimensions, is probably the slowest and doomiest music ever recorded.